Resilient wheel for motor-cars and other road-vehicles.



No. 868,206. PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907.

T. OLDFIELD & J. A. SGHQPIELD. RESILIENT WHEEL FOR MOTOR CARS AND OTHER ROAD VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

,W r NsssEs No. 868,206. PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907. T. OLDFIELD & J. A. SGHOFIELD.

RESILIENT WHEEL FOR MOTOR CARS AND OTHER ROAD VEHICLES.

, APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TOM QLDFIELD AND JOSEPH ARTHUR SOHOF IEL'D, OF HALIFAX, ENGLAND.

RESILIENT WHEEL FOR MOTOR-CARS AND OTHER ROAD-VEHICLES.

No. 863,206. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug; 13, 1907.

Application filed Jnly 27, 1906. Serial No. 328,068.

an extended hub and outer rim or tire having lami- I nated, curved, or other springs interposed, and our object is, primarily, to construct such wheels so that while the relative movements of the outer rim and inner rim or hub in any direction in opposition to the springs is permitted, the springs cushion or absorb all shocks imparted to the outer rim or tire when traveling over an uneven surface, and prevent the same being transmitted to the vehicle body. Further, the springs are arranged and operate in such a manner that whatever the relative displacement of the centers of the hub and outer rim, the elasticity or yielding resistance set up by said springs, is uniform or equal upon dia- -metrically opposite sides throughout the circumference of the wheel, giving a better'balance and greater efficiency to said wheel. Also, when the outer rim takes the drive, the forces acting upon the hub" are simultaneously transmitted equally to diametrically opposite sides of the rim throughout its circumference, and the drive rendered gradual by means of swivel nuts, pivoting upon the hub portion, sliding upon pivoted retaining bolts or tubes and more or less compressing the springs in manner aforesaid, until the resistance of the said springs overcomes the resistance of the outer rim.

Should the forces exerted be violent, or the resistance greater than that of the springs, the continued independent movement of the hub portion after con1-' pression is arrested, and the drive transmitted by radial bolts secured to the hub portion, coming in contact with one end oi a slot in guide boxes secured to the outer rim, according to the direction of motion, and rubber cushions placed withii'rsaid slots reduce the shock or force of impact to a minimum. These bolts and guide boxes or bracketsalso serve to prevent lateral shifting of the two rims, or outer rim and hub portion.

The springs of the cushioning device may be adjusted as to tension, according to the load of the vehicle, and having only one action, a compressive action, they are not liable to frequent breakage but serve for an indefinite period. I v r In this manner we produce a cheap, silent, and officierit spring or resilient wheel constructed and ardevice need renewing,. taken out and replaced.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views in which it can easily and quickly be improved resilient or spring wheel suitable for motor cars and other road vehicles. Fig. 2- is an end elevation in section through the line A. B. of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view through the line C. D, of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view of guide box hr lug for preventing lateral shifting of the outer rim and hub portions and similar view of rim bracket, to which is hinged or pivoted the rocking arm or link and retaining bolt of the cushioning device. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan of swivel nut and means for supporting same within or upon the hub portion. Fig. 7 is a view ofpiv'ot stud ranged so that should any portion of the cushioning Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of our trai mitting the drive, showing position of radial bolt". or stud, and means for buffering same. Fig. 5 is a for supporting the swivel nut aforesaid. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of rocking arm or link to which is attached the retaining bolts. I In constructing resilient wheels in accordance with I our invention we preferably employ an outer rim or tire E concentrically about an inner rim,- or extended or flanged hub F of special design, the latter being preferably formed of aluminium or aluminiunralloy to insure lightness. This inner rim or hub portion F may have radial arms or ribs G for strengthening purpesos, while upon or near its outer edge or rim are a a number of projections or lugs H, within each of which i is a suitable recess or slot .I; Within each recess is a bush, nut, or sleeve Ig supported and made to swivel I within said recess by pivot bolts L screwed into and projecting from each side of lugs or projections.

A radial retaining bolt, rod, or tube M of a suitable length and screwed at each end, passes loosely through each swivel nut or bush K, and is secured to or suspended from a rocking link or arm N pivoting at P I upon a bracket R bolted to the outer rim E. Upon the retaining bolts or tubes M are mounted two spiral or the like springs, one spring S is placed between the rocking arm or link N and the swivel nut K, and the other spring T between the swivel nut and a disk nut U screwed upon the other end of retaining bolt. In this manner whatever the direction of displacement of the rim or hub centers, compression or cushioning of one or other 01' the springs is the result.

Intcrpos d between the aforesaid projections or lugs H, is another series of projections V carrying radial bolts or studs W which project Within a corresponding number of guide boxes, lugs, or brackets X attached to the inner side of the outer rim or tire E. These bolts or studs and guide boxes are radially situated and are out the circumference of the wheel;

for preventing lateral shifting of the rims, and under certain circumstances serve to transmit the drive to the outer rim. I

\\he n all the forces are inequilibrium, the position of the various parts areas shown at Fig. 1, but upon the wheel being loaded thereis a more or less displacement of the centersof the outer rim and hub portions causing meet the springs upon each retaining belt or tube to contribute more or less to the cushion of the outer rim causes the retaining bolts M to oscillate upon their pivots I, and the nuts k to move more or less along the said bolts according to their relative positions and the amount and direction of the forces acting upon-the wheel. Themovements of the nuts K upon the bolts M compress in a corresponding degree one or other of the spirngs S, 'T,- upon each side, and each of these springs absorbs more or less the vibration or shock accordingly.

By tightening up the nuts U and lock-nuts Y upon the bolts M, the tension of the springs may be varied according'tothe load upon the wheel. The retaining bolts M and swivel nuts in combination with the springs S, T, also serve to gradually transmit the drive to the outer rim E, as, immediately a rotary movement is imparted to the hub portion F, the same oscillation and movement of the parts M Kand springs S, T, again take place, conforming to the strain put upon them, and continuing until the resistance of the springs overcomes that of the outer rim or tire'E when the latter imme diately takes the drive. h

In case theweight of the vehicle, obstruct-ions to the outer rim, or othercauses', overcome the resistance of 'the springs, the rotary movement of the hub portion and the movementof the nuts Kalong the retaining bol t's M continue until the radial bolts W come in con- .45 V these bolts operate to overcome any further resistance tact-with the ends of slots Z inthe guide; boxes X;

bIfth'outer-rim, and so impart the drive, 6r motion to the-;vehic,le.

end of said sl'ots when transmitting the drive as before described. In thismanner there is no shock or jerk when starting the vehicle, as the strain is imparted to can be easily and quickly taken out and replaced. The

wheel is as silent and resilient in action as one mounting pneumatic tires.

What we claim as our invention and .desire to secure by Letters Patent is:- I

' 1: In a wheel, the combination. with an outer rim, and

an' inner or hub portion: of sleeves pivoted to the said inner portion, normally radial bars having their middle portions slidable in the said sleeves and their outer ends'pivota-lly connected with the said rim. abutments secured on the end portions of the said bars, and helical s1)i;ingai'- ranged between the ends of the said sleeves and the'said abutments. i 2. In a wheel, the combination, with an outer rim. and an inner or hub portion; of sleeves pivoted to the said inner portion, normally radial bars having sci'ewthreaded portions at each end and having their middle portions slidahle in the said sleeves, abutment blocks screwed on the outer ends of the said bars and pivotuiiy connected with the said rim, abutment nuts screwed on the inner ends of the said bars. and helical springs arranged between the ends of the said sleeves and the said abutment blocks and slidable radially and circumferentially in the said guides. sleeves pivoted to the said inner portion, normailyradini bars having their middle portions siidable in the said sleeves-and theirouter ends plvotally connected with the said rim. abutments secured on the end portions of the said bars, and helical springs arranged between the ends of the said sleeves and the said abutments.

4. In awheel, the combination, with an outer rim, and an inneror hub portion; of guides secured to one of the said parts and provided with spring buffers, gnide bars se cured to the other said part and slidable radially and gir eurnferentiaily in the said guides and engaging with the said buffers,.and spring-controlled drivingconnectlohs opgether.

. din testimony whereof. we aflix our signatures, 5 in pres- A:

ence of two witnesses.

- iron OLDFIEL Q JOSEPHaAR'IHUR scrroum n.

p v /Witnesses 1.. ,Xfiare rubber-blocks placed at each end. ,of thsslots, th im asi of haws eases ABM- em". W. H. Knit-sunk 

